Parabola of Pre-Raphaelitism

Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, Tokyo, Japan and Abeno Harukas Art Museum, Osaka, Japan

14 March – 9 June 2019

This exhibition takes the viewer through the succession of artists who contributed to the 19th century progressive movement in British Art. Starting with J.W.M. Turner as a renowned landscape painter of the time, and artist, critic, writer, and philosopher, John Ruskin, the exhibition presents each artists preoccupations and style. To the formation of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood , which was only live for two years (1848-1850) but had a lasting impact. The Arts & Crafts movement is then presented, including works by Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris. Works from the 1830s to the 1910s are displayed as part of this exhibition.

Watercolour of Mont Blanc with geological diagram in ink — John Ruskin, ‘Mont Blanc From St Martin’s’, n.d., 1996P1388 © The Ruskin, Lancaster University

As part of this exhibition, the bicentenary of the birth of John Ruskin is reflected in the introductory dialogue formed between Ruskin and J.M.W. Turner’s works.

The majority of works leant to this exhibition were from The Ruskin Whitehouse Collection.